Stacey Solomon gave my bedroom an ombre makeover, it looks dead posh but you won’t believe how little it cost
A WOMAN has revealed the incredible ombre makeover Stacey Solomon gave her bedroom in just a few simple steps.
Bianca Brown, a stage four breast cancer patient, was treated to a bedroom redesign by Stacey and experts at Dulux to help create a home that she feels joyful to return to.
Following her diagnosis over a decade ago, Bianca has been documenting the highs and lows of her inspiring journey on her Instagram channel, @thecancerdiary, since 2013.
Her flat in London, is where she has called home for 3 years – and now, with the help of Stacey, and Dulux Creative Director, Marianne Shillingford, she has reinvigorated the space to transform it into somewhere she truly feels she can relax.
Taking inspiration from the Colour of the Year 2024 Calm palette Bianca worked with Stacey and Marianne to create a sanctuary of tranquillity in her bedroom using four shades.
The redesign incorporated an eye-catching green ombre effect behind Bianca’s bed to give the impression of smooth immersion into nature, while a curved backdrop of the colour Nordic Hills was used to frame her TV.
“I’ve been through a lot in my bedroom – its where I contemplated my diagnosis, and where I’ve dealt with round after round of chemotherapy,” Bianca says.
“It got to the stage where I didn’t want my bedroom to represent the difficulties of being a cancer patient anymore, and it needed a transformation.
“Working with Stacey on my bedroom renovation has totally changed the way I feel about the space.
“As an artist, I express myself a lot through colour, and having my bedroom as a canvas has been so much fun.
“It has allowed me to feel at peace in my own space, and really shown the influence even such a delicate colour can have on completely changing how a room feels.
“The ombre effect is particularly soothing to me – it helps me feel grounded as I get into bed every night.”
Create your own ombre wall...
Simple yet effective, the ombre paint technique is one DIY enthusiasts can try in their spaces, no matter their ability. Marianne explains how to achieve an ombre effect in this step-by-step guide:
You will need: Dust sheet, decorators masking tape, tape measure and chalk, 1 x 2” or 1 x 3” paintbrush, 2 x emulsion paint rollers and trays, emulsion paint colours, Stacey used Sweet Embrace, Tranquil Dawn, Pea Shoot and Nordic Hills.
Preparation is key: Make sure you have enough space to work in and use dust sheets to protect the floor and furniture. Mask off the walls, ceilings and woodwork you are not working on.
- Apply a coat of Sweet Embrace to the whole wall and allow to dry
- Measure the heights of where you’d like the paint colours to meet and mark with a chalk line
- Apply the second, third and fourth bands of colours (Tranquil Dawn, Pea Shoot and Nordic Hills) using a roller and brush and allow to dry. The line between them will be blended in the next stage so it doesn’t have to be perfect
- Start with the line between Sweet Embrace and Tranquil Dawn. Use a roller to reapply both colours in a 1m section. Get the colours as close to each other as possible – ideally they should meet.
- While the paint is still wet, use a brush to blend the colours together using criss-cross brush strokes over the place where they connect. Once finished, move onto the next 1m section until the first layer of ombre effect is completed.
- Do the same thing to the connecting line between Tranquil Dawn and Pea Shoot, and then again to the connecting line between Pea Shoot and Nordic Hills
Tips:
- Make sure you have enough room between the bands of colour to blend easily – use brushes rather than rollers to refresh the paint if the bands are closer together
- Always start with the top bands of colour and work down to avoid drips ruining your hard work
- Make sure you apply a good, thick layer of wet paint in each colour so the blending is easier
- Dampen the brush you are using to blend the colours together before starting. Use a 3” brush for wider bands of colour and a 2” brush for smaller bands
- Get a friend to help – it’s such a quick effect and so much easier with two people; one applying the paint and one blending
- Have a little practise on a spare wall or piece of board first. You can also try this with two colours first and foremost to build up your blending confidence.
Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux, goes on to say: “We were really touched by Bianca’s story and positivity and were delighted to collaborate with her in the redesign of her bedroom – leaning on her artistic eye and flair for creativity.
“We have used the ombre technique in a lot of our Colour of the Year 2024 imagery, and so many people have really taken to this.
“It’s easy to see why – the effect is unique and expressive, it’s like leaving a paint fingerprint on a wall. The best part is you decide the colours and how many you want to combine to create a space that is distinctively yours.”